It's Autumn Already?

Where did the end of summer go? I've been really busy and so have neglected this blog, and the gardens to an extent. I've been particularly bad about watering, but luckily we got a bit of rain over the last few days. I did get a bunch of things transplanted, although there's still some work to be done and new plants to be purchased and planted over the next month - at least before first frost.

One of the major things I did over the past couple of weeks is to divide and transplant the bulk of my daylilies. They were in desperate need of division so I'm glad I got that done. I also re-arranged the plants in the beds in front of the house for the most part, although there are still a few more things to be done. The pool bed is also in decent shape, although I need to divide and move some black eyed susans. They are still in partial bloom, so I'll get to that in a couple of weeks. The island bed and the new bulb bed on the other side of the garage are the 2 big projects that will need attention in the coming weeks, although I don't think I'm going to get as far as I had originally planned.

Here are a few things that have been blooming at the end of summer/early fall.

My front stoop. The red mums are courtesy of Willie & Terry, and I'm going to plant them out near the clematis within the next couple of weeks.


Also from Terry. She couldn't remember the name, but I wonder if this is some kind of anemone?


A gorgeous little volunteer that sprung up on the front walk. I'm amazed the boys haven't trampled it yet:


My "cottage" corner is looking pretty pathetic at this point. This is where I'll plant the red mum.


I got 2 measly flowers as part of the "second bloom" on this clematis. I'm going to give it a better structure to climb next year in the hope that it will give me one good show in early summer.


Purple aster has grown a bunch over the last couple of years, despite being moved a couple of times.


This mum is also 2 years old and is growing nicely:


Sedum autumn joy coming into full bloom:

End of Summer Heat

It has just been too hot over the past few weeks to work in the gardens. I've done a bare minimum of weeding and deadheading, but my annuals just keep going and going thankfully. I've even been lax about watering. I've harvested a bunch of tomatoes and peppers and have been cooking with them almost daily. Also fresh oregano, basil, mint and parsley.

The clematis and calla lilies are in the same state, so I'll have to come up with a better climbing device for the clematis next spring, and chuck the callas. I already have a good-sized order placed with Blooming Bulbs, and I'm going to pick up a few more things as well. They actually sent me an email to let me know my 5-6 cm dwarf iris bulbs were only going to be 5 cm. I told them they have the best customer service of any of the bulb companies I've dealt with. And as I discovered when I called them a few months ago, they are located in Medford, Oregon!

A few pics of what is happening at the end of summer.



The purple variety of my dollar and change astilbe in late bloom:


This viburnum was a volunteer! It jumped from the window box on my pool shed, across the pool, and into one of my tomato pots. It had some help I think. I transplanted it to a hanging basket and this is what happened. It came from a dark red plant, interesting what happens with hybrid seeds.


New guinea impatiens are looking good with 2 clumps of surprise black-eyed susans that had been hidden under creeping juniper for years:


Limelight hydrangea turning pink. it will turn a dark pink before losing its blooms.


More annuals going strong - zinnias, cosmos and New guinea impatiens:


In front of the house - agastache, Russian Sage, coreopsis, and roses going strong: